Scott Township Unsure About Skatepark

want to remain in the running for a proposed skateboarding park, but are concerned they won’t be able to find a suitable place for it at Scott Park.

Township resident Mary Pitcher so area kids have a safe place to skateboard, bike and skate. She also has made pitches to Mt. Lebanon and Carnegie, saying she’s looking for the community that wants it the most.

During their Tuesday night board meeting, the commissioners mostly agreed the skating facility would be a nice addition to the township, but they were unsure if the proposed area has enough room or would change the family feel of the park.

“I have some concerns,” Commissioner Bill Wells said. “I don’t like where it’s proposed. I don’t like taking out two tennis courts (at the bottom). I don’t oppose the park, but where it is.”

Wells instead suggested they remove the Walnut Grove pavilion on the other side of the tennis courts so it is farther away from nearby houses on Lindsay Road.

“We’re proposing to put it five feet from someone’s backyard,” Wells said. “They can design it to put it in that (other) space and they would have a lot more space than they do now.”

Other commissioners also offered their concerns.

“I don’t know if I want to disrupt the park,” Board President Tom Castello said. “I would love to have it, but I don’t know where to put it.”

But Commissioner David Jason cautioned others on the board not to automatically reject the proposal. He suggested they remain in the running for it and relay their concerns to the developer.

“I think we still need to look where to put it,” Jason said. “But we at least need to stay in the mix.”

Commissioner Craig Stephens agreed.

“I’m not excluding it,” Stephens said. “I want to keep an open mind, but I want to know more about it.”

But Commissioner David Calabria is concerned how the skate park might affect the dynamics of Scott Park. He is worried that it might be less “family friendly” if it’s installed just a few feet from where Little League baseball games are played.

“Our park, it’s just a different park,” he said.

However, the commissioners unanimously voted to “stay in the mix” and hope the developer can work with them to find a different location in the park. Pitcher has said that fundraisers are ready to pay for all of the skate park and no community tax dollars will be used to build it.

Also during the meeting…

• The commissioners declined to make a decision on whether they should allow near the Chartiers Terrace housing plan. Several residents who live at the Terrace said they want to know more details of the plan and share their concerns at a meeting with Lizzy Evans, who is the softball player working with Duquesne Light to have the light fixtures installed. Sharon Clayton, who is the co-op’s president, said she’s “a little concerned” that the residents don’t know enough about the plan. Scott Township Board President Tom Castello said Lizzy, who wants to meet with the residents, should make sure they’re aware of the plan before moving forward with her application. “We’re not going to rush this through until we have the information,” Castello said.

• Pennsylvania American Water will begin replacing a major pipeline on Greentree Road near the triangle intersection Cochran Road. The work will begin in mid-July and could last the rest of the year as crews replace 16- and 12-inch pipelines that will run on one side of Greentree Road to McMonagle Avenue. The water company and PennDOT plan to present the township with more information next month.

• The commissioners recognized four long-time employees for their service to the township. Alan Ballo, Buzz Devlin, Jo Ann McMurray and Larry Smozna were recognized for their careers and recent retirements.

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